Music-leaf turner.



W. M. MARTIN & A. P. PETRI. MUSIC LEAP TURNER.

w. M. MARTIN & A. P. PRTRI.

MUSIC LEAP TURNER.

PPLI I A GATION FILED JAN 13 1908 Patented Apr.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HTW-W77 QU lj 79 Cyr Unirnn sfrnfrns PATENT WILLIAM M. MARTIN ANI) ALBERT P. PETRI, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

MUSIC-LEAF TURNER.

Application filed January 13, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, VViLLrAM M. MARTIN and ALBERT l? lDn'rnr, both citizens of the United States, and residents of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful improvemei'its in illusie-Leaf Turners, of which the following is a specification containing a full, clear, and exact description,

. f: b 1 .1, u -ieieience emg nad to the accompanying hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which y Figure l is a front elevation of a music leaf turner of our improved construction; Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the swinging arms made use of in carrying out our invention, Fig. l is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line of il l Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. r`t, llig. G is an elevation of a release mechanism employed to permit the release of a series of swinging arms Fig. 7 is an enlarged section taken approximately on the line 7*? of Ll; Fig. S is a perspective view of one of a series of 'pinions made use of in our improved device F ig. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the device utilized for clamping and holding the back of the sheets or folio of music.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings :-"i designates the base or body of the device which is preferably constructed of wood in skeleton form, and suitably ornamented so as to present a finished appearance when in use on a piano or like musical instrument; and arranged for vertical movement through the center of this base is a rod 2, the lower end of which occupies a recess 3 formed in the lower end of the base, and formed through the front side of the base and communicating with this recess 3 is a slot fl.

Horizontally disposed on the front side and lower end of the base l is an operating lever 5, which is pivotally held at one end.,

Specification oi' Letters Patent.

Patented April 20, 1900.

Serial No. 410,550.

as designated by 6, and fixed to said lever and projecting through the slot t and connected to the lower end ofthe rod 2 is a short arm 7.

Fixed on the front face of the base l and at the center thereof is the, music leaf clamp and holder, which is constructed preferably of sheet metal and comprises a base plate f5, which is held on t-he base l by screws, or like fastening devices, and integral with the right hand edge of this base is an outwardly projecting flange 9; and formed integral with the edge of this flange, at the top and bottom, are laterally projecting teeth 10.

Hinged to the side of the base 8, opposite the flange 9, is a gripping member Il, which is provided on its forward edge, at the top and bottom, with laterally projecting teeth l2, which normally lie immediately opposite the teeth l0, and the outer edge of said meinber l1 is normally forced toward the outer edge of the flange 9 by coil springs such as i3 located on the hinge pin which unites the member Il and base 8.

Formed at the center of the member 1l is bend or depression 14, which serves as a seat for the thumb when the gripping member is swung open to receive the back of a folio or sheet of music, and fixed on the front of the base 1, immediately opposite this thumb seat, is a finger rest l5.

Fixed to the base 1, immediately above the upper end of the holding and clamping device just described, is a block 16, to which is hinged a series of horizontally swinging arms 17, which are provided adjacent their centers with the vertically disposed loops 1S, and carried by the outer ends of these arms are spring clips I9, which are adapted to the top edge of the sheets of music which are positioned on the turner.

Fixed on the upper end of the base l and at the center thereof is a housing 2i), which incloses the releasing mechanism of the turner, and formed in the front of this housing is a horizontally disposed slot 21.

Detachably fixed within the housing and on the base thereof is a triangular frame 22, in the right hand portion of which is arranged for operation a vertically disposed shaft 223, on which is arranged for independent rotation a series of toothed segments 2%, and formed integralwith each segment is a rearwardly projecting arm 25, and connected to all of the arms are the ends of a series of re tractile coil springs 26, the opposite ends of ILO which are secured to the left hand end of the frame 22.

Arranged for rotation in the front portion of the frame 22, and directly in front of the shaft 2B, is a vertically disposed shaft 27, on which is arranged for independent rotation a series of pinions 2S, which mesh with the toothed segments 24 and formed integral with the pinions 28 are lugs 29, in which are` fixed the inner ends of a series of horizontally swinging rods 3G, which project through the slot 21, and the outer ends of said rods pass through the vertically disposed loops 1S formed on the rods 17.

By the arrangement just described, the arms 17 are permitted to swing approximately 180o and said swing requiring but a mall movement of the spring 26 when the arms are swung to the right, and, as a result, the springs are lasting, as the tension normally on said springs is reduced to a minimum.

Fixed on the base of the housing, and at the right hand end thereof, is a vertically disposed plate 31, on the front end of which is fixed a vertically dis` osed strip 32, the upper end of which is beveled, as designated bv 3S, and said upper end projecting distance equal to the diameter of the arms 17 above the top of the plate S1.

designates a plate provided with a hori Zruitally disposed slot 35, the forward end of which is widened, as designated by 36, and formed integral with the Atop of said plate is laterally irojecting flange 37, which projects over the plate 3l; and iixed to the under side of the forward end of this flange' 37 is a blocl: 38 which normally rests on the upper end of the strip 32. rl'he plate is pivotally connected adjacent its rear end to the plate 31, and seated in said plate 34 is a pin 39, which projects through a slot 4G formed in the plate 31, which arrangement limits the upward movement of the forward end of the plate A retractile coil spring 41. is fixed to lug carried by the plate 34 and to the base of the housing 20, and which coil spring normally holds the plate 34 at its lowerinost limit of movement, with the block 38 resting on top of the strip 32.

Fulcrumed to a lng 42 formed on the base of the housing 21 is a lever 43, to the rear end of which is attached the upper end the rod 2, and the forward end of this lever occupies a position immediately adjacent the forward portion of the plate 31, and formed integral with the forward end of said lever is a vertically disposed finger 44, which operates immediately to the rear of the strip 32.

An expansive coil spring 45 is located between the lever 43 and the base of the housing 21, to the rear of the lug 42, and which coil spring maintains the rear end of the lever in an elevated position and with the forward end resting on a stop 46 which is the housing. The 43 is normally poupper edge of the plateBl.

Fixed to the base of the housing 2O and at the left hand end thereof is an adjustable stop 47, which is for the purpose of limiting the movement of the swinging rods 30.

lhen the device is set for use, the back of the music folio is held between the teeth 10 and 12 of the clamp or holder, and the upper outer corners of the various sheets of music are engaged by the spring clips 19; and the swinging rods 17 and 30 are all moved toward the right, with the rods occupying the slot 35 in the plate 34, and the front one of said rods bearing immediately against the rear edge of thecstrip 32 at the upper end thereof.

lill? hen the swiging rods are thus set for use, the pinions 28 are necessarily rotated, in turn rotating the toothed segments 24, which action expands the coil springs 26 and stores power therein.

To operate the device and turn the first leaf of music, the free end of the lever 5 is depressed, which action moves the rod 2 downward, thus swinging the lever upon its fulcrum point, and moving the finger 44 upward between the first and second rods 3U; and the continued upward movement causes the upper end of the finger 44 to bear against the blocl; 3S, and, following this action, the forward end of the plate 34 is elevaterL and all of the. rods 30 will be slightly elevated, as shown by dotted lines in Figs. 5 and 7; and as soon as the front one of said rods is free from the upper' end of the strip 32, the power stored in the corresponding one of the coil spring, 26 will cause the corresponding segment 24 to operate, and, as a result, the first rod SG will swing forward and to the left, carrying with it the first one of the rods l? the sheet cf music which is engaged by the spring or clip carried on said first rod 17. iluring this release, the second one of the rods 3G is prevented from moving forward oi he reason that it is held by the i t finger 44, and as soon as the first leaf hasYV been turned and the finger trip 5 released, the lever returns to its normal position, by reason of the power stored in the coil spring the forward end of the plate 34 will swing downward until the block 38 rests on the upper end of the strip 32, and the Yhnger 44 continuing its downward movement releases the second one of the arms 30,

and the sarne moves forward against the rearV edge of said strip 32, by reason of power stored in corresponding spring 26, thus oc-` cupying the position vacated by arm turning first page g and the finger 44 moves downward below the plane occupied by the rods 3G, or until the forward end of the lever 43 rests on the stop, 46.

rlhus the second one` of the rods 30 is brought into position lor release, and all ol said rods are successively released by the repetition oi the operations just described, which operations are brought about by a manipulation of the lever g and, as a result, the succeeding leaves of music are quickly turned. The stop i? limits the movement oil the arm to the lel't, and after any one or all oi said arms have been released, they may be returned to their set positions by a movement toward the right hand; and, when being set, said arms 30 pass into the slot through the wide mouth thereo'l' and over the inclined upper end ci the strip A music leaf turner of our improved construction is quickly and easily adjusted and set for operation, operates very rapidly when released, and the releasing` mechanism is dependent upon the operation ol a single lever which is convenient to the hand of the player, and the operation of which in no way interleres with the movements of the player.

"'fvhen the player actuates the device, the left hand, in striking` the keys is raised slightly above the lever 5 g and in bringing the hand back to the keys, one of the fingers strikes said lever and thus accomplishes the turning operation without the appreciable loss of time, and this movement being natural and incorporated in the playing of the instrument.

lt is impossible for more than one page to be turned at one time and by our improved means of clamping the pages of sheet or folio of music, the page being turned cannot by suction cause the succeeding page or pages to follow its movement, to the left.

The device is so constructed as to be readily used on any piano, organ, or music stand, such as are commonly used by hands and orchestras; and when in use on a piano or organ, occupies the 1position ordinarily occupied by sheets or fo ios of music; and when in use presents an ornamental appear ance and can be shifted and removed as desired.

lNe claim 1. In a music leaf turner, a base, a series of spring held toothed segments arranged for independent operation on the base, a series of pinions meshing with the toothed segments, arms fixed to the pinions and arranged to swing from one side to the other, a second set of swinging arms arranged on the base, loops formed in the second set of arms and which loops are engaged by the ends of the `lirst set oi' arms, means arranged on one side of the base for engaging the first set oi' arms, and means whereby said engaging means is actuated to release the arms one at a time. i' 2. In a music leaf turner, a base, a series of arms hinged to said base and arranged to swing from one side to the other', there being vertically disposed loops formed in said arms, a series oi' spring actuated arms pivotally arranged on the base, the outer ends of which second mentioned arms engage in the vertically disposed loops in the lirst mentioned set of arms, a vertically disposed plate fixed on the base, in which plate is formed a slot which receives the second mentioned set of arms, means arranged on said plate for releasing the arms one at a time, and means whereby the releasing means is actuated.

3. ln a music leaf turner, a standard, a housing arranged on the upper end of said standard, a series of spring held toothed segments arranged for independent operation within the housing, a series of pinions meshing with the toothed segments, arms carried by the pinions and arranged to swing from one side of the housing to the other, a series oi swinging arms secured to the standard, loops formed in the second set of arms, which loops engage the ends of the 'lirst set of arms, means arranged on one side of the base for engaging the iirst set of arms, and which en gaging means is adapted to release the arms one at a time, and means arranged in the standard for actuating the engaging and releasing means.

ln testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this speciiication, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLAM l/l. MARTIN. ALBERT P. PETRI.

Witnesses N. l?. SMITH, E. L. VALLACE. 

